From condemning the devil’s buttermilk to celebrating gin and whiskey distillery – the DUP and Diane Dodds

Proverbs 23:29-32: “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”

The headlines have been utterly dominated this week by news of Arlene Foster’s demise as leader of the DUP, with much mention made of her softening stance on moral issues.

The final nail in the coffin for her leadership appeared to be her abstention on a motion at the NI Assembly in relation to “gay conversion therapy”, and that is something we intend to, in the will of the Lord, address in another post next week.

However, a matter arose a few weeks ago which we wish to highlight first and which, we believe, is indicative of the degenerative plight of the DUP in recent years, a plight accelerated under her catastrophic leadership.

It is the matter of professing Christian Diane Dodds, determined Arlene acolyte and now an MLA and Minister in the Stormont Executive (no doubt due to her dazzling political acumen and not in any way connected to who her husband is) celebrating and smiling proudly at the opening of a new gin and whiskey distillery in the town of Ballynahinch in County Down.

It is certainly rather at odds with her former party leader Ian Paisley’s stance of describing alcohol as “the devil’s buttermilk”.

In her role as Economy Minister, she visited the new ‘Hinch Distillery and visitor centre’ to wish them every success in the promotion and sale of a very strong variant of the devil’s buttermilk.

Speaking about the distillery, the professing Christian said: “Northern Ireland is known globally for our great hospitality along with the pure natural quality of our produce.

“Investments like these will help us sow the seeds of recovery and rebuild our economy following the impact of the pandemic. The hospitality and tourism industry has been especially impacted so I am delighted to be here today to be able to celebrate this investment, and I want to congratulate Terry and his team and wish them every success.”

Her quotes can be found in this article you can find by clicking here. Diane Dodds also retweeted the Department of the Economy tweet plugging this investment, so she is certainly not ashamed of it. Her retweet of that post is pictured below.

Diane Dodds evidently considers hard liquor to be “pure natural quality” rather than a debauching, harmful, addictive substance which ought to be discouraged from consumption, especially by a professing Christian.

And she states that she was “delighted to be here” and wishes “Terry [Cross, the distillery owner] and his team every success”.

How odd it is that Diane Dodds should be delighted to be at a distillery and smiling like the cat who got the cream beside the owner of the distillery and chief distiller, standing with three bottles of booze on a barrel?

Should her delight not be in the Lord (Psalm 37:5) and not in the world?

Diane Dodds wishes this purveyor of intoxicants “every success” – how on earth can that be consistent with what ought to be a godly desire to live a separated life?

Proverbs 20:1 reminds us of the damage done to the individual of alcohol in general, with specific reference to strong drink, which whiskey undoubtedly is.

It says: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Does Diane Dodds or her party wish to have such characters as those mentioned in Micah 2 held up as desirable examples?

She says in the quotes signed off by her above that “investments like these will help sow the seeds of recovery and help rebuild our economy following the impact of the pandemic”.

Micah 2:11 says: “If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.”

It would appear that Diane Dodds is “prophesy[ing] unto thee of wine and of strong drink”.

Those false prophets told the people of the land that better days were to come despite the reproaches they were under of the Lord. They were prophesying to the people that there will be wine and strong drink in abundance in the days to come, that their crops will be bountiful, their produce and prosperity abundant.

And that was the type of character the people wanted to have as their prophet.

Do the comments of Diane Dodds not bear a striking resemblance to those type of sentiments condemned by the Lord through Micah?

Read what she says again: “Investments like these will help us sow the seeds of recovery and rebuild our economy.”

Her prophesy of wine and of strong drink will lead to “recovery” and “rebuild our economy”.

She is telling us we will all be better off as a country with more gin and whiskey being flogged and with more people visiting the tourist centre to have the image of alcohol, an addictive drug no less, further polished up and glamourised.

Sorry Diane Dodds, that is an utterly unacceptable comment from anyone, but especially from a professing Christian, and we would urge you to reflect on this and think upon it.

So many lives have been ruined and debauched by the demon drink, yet you seek to fund it, promote it and tell us we will be better off as a nation as a result?

Professing Christian Diane Dodds’ promotion of this distillery and expression of hope for the success of this business means she wants people to buy and consume this alcohol.

Think about that – Diane Dodds, a professing Christian and DUP Minister, actively wants people to buy and consume strong drink, indulging in a lifestyle utterly synonymous with the sinful world around us.

We would call on Diane Dodds to publicly repudiate her shameful actions and apologise for them.

Oh the folly of indulging in alcohol!

We will finish as we started, in the hope the message may get through.

Proverbs 23:29-35: “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”

How did I come to faith? I made myself known to the rector – Church of Ireland canon

The apparently “leading” religious figures interviewed each week by the old ecumenist Alf McCreary in the Belfast Telegraph are almost invariably deeply unimpressive.

With the likes of ‘Papist’ Peter Lynas taking his opportunity when profiled in the ‘What I Believe’ feature to have a swipe at anyone standing up for the truth of God’s Word as displaying “residual bigotry”, Christian Aid leader Rosamond Bennett claiming to have been saved without asking for forgiveness of sins and saying God might be a woman and Presbyterian cleric Rev Ernie Rea outrageously saying that “if hell exists, it is empty”, the bar has not been set especially high by those featured therein when it comes to religious standards.

And living up (or is it down?) to those less than impressive standards now is Canon Katie McAteer, recently appointed as the first ever female canon of St Columb’s Cathedral in Londonderry, though most likely she would prefer to call it “Derry”,  the nom de plume assigned to that historic walled city by those who hate any semblance of Britishness in our land or who seek to cower to the whims of Romanism and Irish republicanism, Church of Ireland clerics typically being high up in that category.

Having her profile raised for being in a more senior role in a vocation she ought not to be involved in (1 Timothy 2:12), she was prime fodder for Alf McCreary’s feature which might better be titled ‘Heretic of the Week’ or something in that vein.

He tends to studiously avoid featuring any individuals who might not be fully paid up members of the apostasy in our land, with only occasional, minor blips.

And Canon Katie McAteer, who, it is revealed in the article is the daughter of a Church of England vicar, fits the standard bill wonderfully for the feature.

The question ‘how and when did you come to faith?’ almost exclusively brings with it a deeply concerning answer.

Of course the question itself is flexible enough in its phrasing to allow for such answers, but that does not excuse the risible responses of many of these allegedly leading figures in Christendom in Northern Ireland.

And Canon Katie McAteer’s response is undoubtedly one of the most unimpressive answers one could imagine.

This was her answer: “Although I had been brought up understanding difference amongst Christians, it didn’t really prepare me for Northern Ireland. Suddenly the world was “divided” between Protestants and Catholics. I was not brought up to refer to myself as “Protestant”, I was C of E (Church of England)!

“I was unsure and a little wary of contacting churches here – the term “Low Church” was quite scary to a relatively sheltered “High Church” girl like me.

“However, I made myself known to the then rector of Christ Church, who very quickly accepted me.”

Sorry Katie McAteer – the question was ‘how and when did you come to faith’, not ‘how did you come to attend a church in Northern Ireland?’

There is no mention of grief over sins, a burden of guilt for how she had despised the Saviour or how she cried out in repentance to God for mercy and for salvation.

None of this is contained in her story.

Surely if she is a true child of God, saved by the previous blood of the Saviour, she would be delighted to have an opportunity to tell the tens of thousands of readers of the Belfast Telegraph, no doubt many of whom are unsaved, of how God had gloriously saved her and taken her from being on the broad path which leads to destruction and set her on the narrow road to an eternity in heaven.

If we are truly saved, would we not delight in recounting how God spoke to our souls and convinced and convicted us of our sins?

The psalmist said in Psalm 13:5 that “my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation”.

Isaiah 61:10 says: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

If Canon Katie McAteer is clothed with the garments of salvation, if she is covered with the robe of righteousness,  would she not delight to tell of how God had saved her?

Instead, her apparent method of “coming to faith” consists of making herself known to the rector.

How does introducing yourself to the minister equate to being saved?

Not only is it a deeply concerning answer but it is a shamefully missed opportunity.

People could be very much misled by such a pathetic answer, thinking that introducing yourself to the minister is what saves you.

Going to church doesn’t save, paying into a church doesn’t save, saying hello to a minister doesn’t save, only placing your faith in Christ alone can save.

We can do nothing of ourselves to obtain salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

How many supposed ministers dilute the gospel message and ignore the absolute necessity of the all-atoning blood of Christ at Calvary in our salvation.

Dear reader, if you are as yet without a Saviour, won’t you come to God today in humility and repentance.

Jesus promises in John 6:37 that “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”.

We cannot get to God our own way, no matter what the likes of Canon Katie McAteer would have the unsaved believe.

One must only look at the example of Cain for proof of that.

He thought his offering would meet with God’s approval, but because he did things his way, it was not accepted by God.

This is the same, sadly, for so many who have been led astray by ministers who fail to tell of the need of salvation.

But any reading this now cannot say they have not been warned – won’t you come to the Saviour even now?

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Presbyterian Moderator congratulates abortion and sodomite marriage supporter on becoming Irish prime minister

Leaders of the mainstream churches in Ireland, on either side of the border, love to try to give themselves some feeling of relevance and gravitas by making statements in relation to the political affairs in their jurisdiction.

Quite often we will see the miserable sight of the leaders of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist and Romanist churches standing together with their solemn faces (for effect), speaking about how they have just blethered on in the ear of some disinterested, minor government figure about how they hope everyone is nice to eachother and invites their political enemies round for a cup of tea.

Northern Ireland is still subjected to this self-indulgent, meaningless nonsense and deep down all four churches’ leaders must have loved the numerous opportunities they had to do just that while power-sharing in Northern Ireland had collapsed.

They stated how they wanted the Executive back up and running and for us to put aside our differences, a euphemistic way of saying we should all dance to the tune of the murderers and murderer sympathisers and supporters of Sinn Fein so they can continue to let us all play happy families to keep the ecumenical show on the road.

Sometimes we even had the bonus of a fifth religious compromiser when the President of the Irish Council of Churches, currently Rev Ivan Patterson and previously Rev Brian Anderson, would join in for the day’s outing.

And in that true irrelevant and self-important spirit we have the current Presbyterian Moderator, the Right Reverend Dr David Bruce, jumping in to send his congratulations to Micheál Martin on becoming the new Taoiseach, or prime minister of the Republic of Ireland.

Given the Presbyterian Church is an all-island church, it is perfectly reasonable for Rev David Buce to be making a comment.

However, it is truly remarkable that a man who would claim to be a servant of God and presumably trying to please Him, would congratulate a man on becoming the most senior political figure in the country who is in support of abortion and sodomite marriage.

These are two grave sins which are utterly at odds with any form of true Christianity, so why would congratulations be extended to a man who most assuredly will not move to cease baby murder or the desecration of the marriage bond instituted by God?

Indeed, in the statement issued by Rev David Bruce, he makes absolutely no mention of these two vital issues, and surely they are even more relevant as it has just been revealed that in the first year of legalised abortion in the Republic of Ireland there had been 6,666 (and we all know what the number 6 represents in God’s Word) babies done to death.

Instead, this latest piffling pastor bleats on about Brexit and coronavirus, as if this new prime minister has any power to truly affect either of these issues.

We will remind Rev David Bruce and, indeed Micheál Martin, a man of a Romanist background, what the Bible has to say on both sodomy and the value of the baby in the womb.

Firstly, we will point out the Biblical view on abortion.

Psalm 139:13-16 is a famous passage which stresses how God keeps a record of even a tiny baby whose body has not yet formed in their mother’s womb.

It says: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

God sees fit to record the particulars of the unborn, yet Micheál Martin sees fit to back legislation which makes the organised slaughter of the unborn legal and Rev David Bruce sees fit to not trouble him by challenging him on this appalling situation.

With regards the issue of sodomy, we have dealt with this topic on so many occasions that surely none can be left in any doubt as to what the Bible says about this sin which drew the particular wrath of God.

Only those who deliberately wish to ignore God’s Word on this matter, for whatever reason, can continue to quibble on this.

We will once again reproduce here just a small number of the passages which make the Scriptural view on this matter very clear.

Leviticus 18:22: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”

Romans 1:26-27: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

This is crystal clear stuff, yet so many who purport to be Christians and, worse again, Christian leaders, either ignore, disregard or downright deny this simple truth.

Micheál Martin does not, to the best of our knowledge, claim to be a Christian, but Rev David Bruce certainly does and he shouldn’t be congratulating a man who supports things which are so clearly repugnant to the Word of God.

He may well be opposed to abortion, he might even be opposed to sodomite marriage, but if he doesn’t do anything to challenge political leaders on their support for such sins, he is of little use.

Like so many of his peers, he is a dog which refuses to bark.

Isaiah 56:10: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.”

Let us all pray that God will raise up a generation of preachers who know how to bark, rather than slumbering while the world around us is descending ever closer to the pit.

And let us remind those we know or come in contact with of the blessed hope which is in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:13: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Barking mad – Romanist novena preaching Church of Ireland ‘minister’ holds dog blessing service

There appears to have been something of a new fad emerging in recent years of holding pet blessing services in churches.

Most notably, two years ago St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast (a hub of ecumenical compromise) hosted such an event, which was repeated last year. We are unsure if such an event took place this year.

However, if it didn’t, stepping in to this particular breach was ‘Rev’ Tracey McRoberts (1 Timothy 2:12), ‘minister’ of St Matthew’s Parish Church, Belfast as she held what was described as a “special service for pets” by the Diocese of Connor’s website.

That same report (a screenshot of the headline, as well as a picture of Rev Tracey McRoberts holding one of the dogs in attendance is pictured below) states the service, held at the beginning of this month, featured “15 dogs coming along for praise and blessing”.

We are further told that “the congregation at St Matthew’s is joined every week by Buzz, Rex, Bracken, Rio and new puppy Millie, and this special service was an opportunity for more parishioners to bring their pets along”.

What an absolutely ludicrous spectacle this was and apparently is on a weekly basis.

One must wonder what on earth sort of priorities this church or ‘minister’ has?

When, for example, did St Matthew’s Parish Church, Belfast, last conduct a gospel mission, aimed at seeing sinners repent of their sins and place their faith and trust in Christ for salvation?

We have looked and looked online and can see absolutely no occasion in which such a thing has happened.

It is, no doubt, likely that it has been several decades, at least, since there was a gospel mission conducted by this church.

Yet, here it is holding such a risible service with the purpose of offering a blessing to dogs, who will, obviously, have absolutely no idea what is going on and are far more likely to leave a mess behind them than they are to be in any way benefited by such an exercise in futility and, frankly, silliness.

Where is to be the notion of reverence in church when such a circus act is introduced?

Psalm 89:7: “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.”

Dogs, indeed, despite our modern obsession with having them as pets, are thought of in a very lowly manner in God’s Word (Deuteronomy 23:18, 1 Samuel 17:43, Proverbs 26:11, Matthew 7:6, 2 Peter 2:22).

Regardless, of course, of what animal it is which was brought along for a blessing, the simple fact is that they do not have a soul.

Only mankind has a soul, breathed into us by God Himself at creation.

Genesis 2:7: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Yet St Matthew’s Parish Church and ‘Rev’ Tracey McRoberts are prioritising offering some utterly irrelevant so-called blessing to dogs rather than striving to see souls saved through the simple preaching of the gospel.

Of course, given what we already know about ‘Rev’ Tracey McRoberts, it is hardly surprising that orthodox Christianity is not one of her key priorities.

Back in July, we highlighted ‘Rev’ Tracey McRoberts’ participation in the Clonard Monastery Novena in west Belfast.

This was a brazen, shameless, outrageous act of ecumenical betrayal of her Protestant heritage and of the Word of God, which warns us not to be partaking in worship with deniers of God and His Word.

Ephesians 5:11 says: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Her participation in a foul, blasphemous event where Jesus is offered up as a sacrifice by a practitioner of Popish priestcraft and where Mary is worshipped was absolutely outrageous.

Indeed, holding such an inanity as a pet blessing service is almost admirable in comparison.

One certainly is left to wonder as to what exactly are the priorities of ‘Rev’ Tracey McRoberts and her ilk within the ordained ministry of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church, among others?

It certainly isn’t to preach of salvation through the blood of the Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ.

It certainly isn’t to preach of the atoning death of Christ at Calvary.

It certainly isn’t to preach of the absolute necessity to repent of your sin and place your faith and trust in Christ for salvation.

Rather, there are the friendly gimmicks, the soft soap sermons, the ‘thought for the day’ type fluff designed to tickle ears (or bellies, perhaps, in the case of the dogs).

We are left with the sad conclusion that such ministers are akin to those dogs referred to by the prophet.

Isaiah 56:10-11 says: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”

Such watchmen are asleep on the job and are so obviously ill-fitted to the role they have found themselves in.

Let us not allow ourselves to be under the ministry of such “dumb dogs”, and let us not sit by idly and allow such “dumb dogs” to continue on in their role unchallenged for their failure to fulfil the role they find themselves in.

Let us continue to pray for times of refreshing from the Lord, times where, as we are told in Acts 6:7, “a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith”.

This land needs a revival and let us never cease to pray to God that He would show mercy towards us and send a mighty revival to Northern Ireland and further afield.

Bring on the booze – more compromise from the DUP

Proverbs 23:29-35: “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”

Much sorrow, much strife, much unhappiness is caused by the consumption of alcohol.

It stupifies the mind, lowers inhibitions, heightens passions and corrodes the body.

Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

How much misery has been caused in homes up and down our land by the consumption of alcohol?

How much woe, sorrow, contention, babbling, injury is caused by the consumption of alcohol?

Yet a DUP MP, and professing Christian, has publicly demonstrated his support for the publican by jumping in behind the ‘Long Live the Local’ campaign, aimed at cutting beer tax for publicans to allow them to make more money from the sale of intoxicants.

Quoted in a Belfast Newsletter article, Strangford MP Jim Shannon (pictured, top) said: “I’m supporting the Long Live the Local campaign and calling on the chancellor to cut beer tax at this year’s budget to support pubs in our local communities,” he said.

The article goes on to explain that “the campaign celebrates pubs whilst educating the public about the challenges they face”.

Why would a professing Christian want to throw their weight behind a campaign which “celebrates pubs”?

It truly is hard to fathom.

Jim Shannon says he is offering his support because 651 jobs in his constituency are supported by the brewing industry and pubs and they contribute £14.8 million per year to the local economy.

So it would appear to be to curry favour with the 651 potential voters whose jobs rely on the weaknesses of others.

How noble.

Of course, nobody wishes to see anyone losing their livelihood, but when it is made from the promotion and facilitation of sin, then surely Christians should be opposed to it rather than actively supporting it.

Jim Shannon says these pubs are “at the heart of communities” – should it not be his wish for the Word of God and faithful churches to be at the heart of communities?

Christians are instructed in God’s Word to be like salt and light in the world around them, they are to be clearly demarcated from the ungodly world in which they live.

How can Jim Shannon possibly keep himself separated from the sinful world in which he lives if he is actively promoting an activity which is synonymous with all manner of sinfulness?

We are instructed in Jude v 23 to hate “even the garment spotted by the flesh”.

Even the appearance of sin is to be eschewed and steered well clear of, yet Jim Shannon is diving headlong into the promotion of something which is very sinful indeed.

Christians are not to be the same as the world around us.

Romans 12:1-3 says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

We are to be transformed, rather than conformed, and there are few things this world loves more than alcohol. Why would we want to conform to this ungodly worldview?

Those verses also instruct us to think soberly. How can we think soberly if we are not sober? Or how can we defend promoting someone else losing their sobriety by backing a campaign to keep pubs in business?

This is but the latest sign of the malaise at large within the DUP and there is no doubt Jim Shannon will receive no censure for his actions.

After all the party leader, Arlene Foster (pictured, above), has fallen over herself to repeatedly send her well wishes to former Scottish Conservative leader, the lesbian Ruth Davidson, who gave birth to a child last year which she jointly raises with her “wife”, while North Belfast MLA Paula Bradley gave her blessing to the staging of a repulsive drag event in the corridors of Stormont.

However, this is something which ought to concern and grieve every true child of God and once again demonstrates the absolute need for us to be diligent in our walk with God so we do not deviate from zealously and earnestly following God’s Word.

1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.

Jacob Stockdale joins Hillsong leader in attacking Israel Folau for Biblical stance on sodomy

Ulster and Ireland rugby star Jacob Stockdale has again made some very disappointing comments for a professing Christian by condemning Australian rugby star Israel Folau for stating the Biblical position on homosexuality.

Stockdale, who is involved with Banbridge Road Presbyterian Church in Dromore, County Down and whose father is a Presbyterian prison chaplain, said Folau was “preaching all the wrong things about Christianity”.

This follows on from a previous interview Jacob Stockdale gave to the Presbyterian Herald, in which he stated that he went drinking with his team mates and outlined his opposition to the Biblical principle of separation, which you can read about by clicking here.

And he has now joined the leader of the utterly ungodly Hillsong Church movement, Brian Houston (pictured, below) in condemning Israel Folau for simply repeating what the Bible has to say.

Let us remember what Israel Folau said, or indeed posted on his Instagram page.

His post, which is pictured at the top of this article, stated:

WARNING: Drunks, Homosexuals, Adulterers, Liars, Fornicators, Thieves, Atheists, Idolaters – HELL AWAITS YOU. REPENT! ONLY JESUS SAVES.

This is taken from the following passage in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, which says: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

So Israel Folau was simply repeating what the Bible says but Jacob Stockdale appears to be claiming to know better than God’s Word, saying Israel Folau is “preaching all the wrong things about Christianity”.

Does that mean Jacob Stockdale strokes that passage from his copy of the Bible?

The wrath and judgement of God is a crucial aspect of Christianity, just as is His love and mercy.

Were there no punishment for sin, then why would we need or desire God’s love or mercy?

Paul, in his first letter to the believers at Thessalonika, stated that Jesus had delivered those who were saved “from the wrath to come”.

Jesus spoke of “the wrath to come” in His time on earth (Matthew 3:7) and warned that we ought to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

Is this what Jacob Stockdale considers to be “all the wrong things about Christianity”?

Jesus and the Apostle Paul both preached the judgment of God, yet Jacob Stockdale seems to be opposed to this.

It is very disappointing he could not side with Israel Folau, but instead sides with the LGBT agenda which is spreading like wildfire through our country.

This is what Jacob Stockdale said in an interview with the Irish Times: “From a religious point of view, it preaches all the wrong things about Christianity. It preaches God is a spiteful God, a hateful God. You are going to hell. You are going to burn in hell. Realistically, God is an all loving God. He’s a forgiving God.

“Going back to Israel Folau that’s the point he missed, that’s the point he didn’t talk about. As a Christian and rugby player it was very disappointing. For me Israel Folau wasn’t respectful of other people.

“As a Christian and a professional sports person you don’t want to divide people. You don’t want to alienate people.

“You want people to feel comfortable coming to watch you play rugby. You want people to feel comfortable coming to support you knowing why you believe and knowing what kind of person you are.”

There are a great many things we could highlight from those quotes and, to (hopefully!) prevent the article becoming too lengthy, we will address just some of it.

Saying that Israel Folau, by quoting the Bible, is preaching a “hateful” and “spiteful God”, is a very foolish thing to do.

Jacob Stockdale goes on to say it is hateful to say that people are going to hell and that God is an “all loving” and “forgiving God”.

Certainly God is a God of love, He is patient and He is willing and able to forgive us of our sins.

2 Peter 3:9 says: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

But there are consequences for failing to repent of our sins.

Revelation 21:8 outlines this. It says: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Romans 6:23 reminds us that the “wages of sin is death” and Jesus said in Luke 13:3 that “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”.

We are all under a death sentence for sin and the only way to be saved from it is to place our faith and trust in Christ and repent of our sins.

This is the central message of the gospel, yet Jacob Stockdale seems to think it is wrong for Israel Folau to mention it.

He also unfairly and inaccurately claims that Israel Folau “didn’t talk about” God’s forgiveness. In the caption Israel Folau placed beside the post he shared, he said that “Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him”.

It’s pretty clear that claim by Jacob Stockdale is wrong.

And he concludes by saying that you “don’t want to divide people” or “alienate” them.

Certainly it is not desirable to do that, but at what cost?

Do professing Christians, to save from offending the unsaved, refuse to tell them what the Bible says and the judgement God has in store if they don’t repent?

God forbid.

Paul, as he bid farewell to those in the church at Ephesus, said in Acts 20:26-27: “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men . For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”

Paul hadn’t just told people the nice bits of the love, mercy, lovingkindness and salvation of God, but he had preached the consequences of sin, he had preached the punishment of the unrepentant. In doing so, he had discharged his duty and the blood of the people of Ephesus was not on his hands.

He was a good watchman (see Ezekiel 33).

If Jacob Stockdale is refusing to tell others of the consequences of their sin so as not to offend or “alienate” them, then the same could not be said of him.

Jacob Stockdale’s idea of not dividing people is also an unscriptural one.

Jesus states this Himself in Matthew 10:34-35, which says: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Jacob Stockdale’s idea of not offending people is also an unscriptural one.

1 Peter 2:7-8 says: “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient”.

As we have stated, we should not set out to offend people, but we “ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

But it is not up to us if people will listen or not, if they will be offended or not, all we can do is discharge our duty and warn of God’s judgement.

Ezekiel 2:7 says: “And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”

Sadly, it would appear that Jacob Stockdale is not prepared to do this.

As we stated before, Jacob Stockdale is seen as a role model by many young Christians and is in a position where he could take an incredibly powerful stand for God.

It is most disappointing that he is instead criticising Israel Folau (whose church links we would have considerable reservations over but he is clearly right in this instance) for taking a stand on this key battleground in the drive by God-defiers and God-deniers to attack Christianity.

We would once again urge Jacob Stockdale in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to “consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5) and take what would prove to be a mighty stand for God.

And we would urge anyone reading this to take that same stand for God and speak out against that which is contrary to God and His Word and never be afraid to “declare all the counsel of God”.

2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Bangor Elim to give hero’s welcome to Pope performers Rend Collective

Acts 5:29: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

The supposedly ‘Christian’ rock band, Rend Collective, who performed for the Pope when he visited Dublin last year, will be welcomed back as heroes to Bangor Elim next week as they perform three concerts at that church.

Rend Collective will be on stage at Bangor Elim for three consecutive nights from Tuesday, 21 to Thursday, 23 May.

Indeed, sadly such was the demand to see this Papal pandering band that initially there was to be just two concerts, but a third was added after the first two sold out. Tickets cost £20 each.

Religious compromise certainly can be financially profitable, it would appear.

It is being billed as a hometown show as Rend Collective was born out of Bangor Elim in 2002.

Let us remind readers of the truly disgraceful compromise carried out by Rend Collective as they seek to please man rather than God.

Last August, during the visit of the Pope, who blasphemously calls himself the Vicar of Christ on earth, to Dublin, the allegedly God-exalting Rend Collective gladly accepted an invitation to be part of the entertainment for the crowds as they gathered in Phoenix Park to celebrate the Papal Mass.

So they have openly compromised with the false religion of Popery.

Then, in September, in a discussion with a transgender individual, they appeared to say it was “a sad thing” that certain churches would not allow a transgender person to lead worship or preach.

So they have openly compromised with the utterly godless LGBT lobby.

They also made a very telling statement at that time, saying that “in an attempt to foster unity we try not to be selective in who we partner with under the banner of the gospel”.

Sadly, they certainly got that right!

And to drive home that ecumenical spirit, we revealed in February that this summer, Rend Collective will perform at supposedly ‘Christian’ summer camps, ran by brazen ecumenist Mike Pilavachi’s Soul Survivor church, at which the Roman Catholic Mass is celebrated.

So they will once more openly compromise with ecumenists and Romanism.

Does Bangor Elim think all of these antics are acceptable?

Does Bangor Elim believe they should be promoting a band, regardless of its links to their church, which repeatedly engages with the pagan, anti-Christian system of Rome and which compromises with the sodomite lobby?

Gary Beattie is the lead pastor of Bangor Elim and has been since 2002, which, perhaps coincidentally, is the same year Rend Collective formed.

So, does Gary Beattie think all of these antics are acceptable?

Does Gary Beattie believe Bangor Elim should be promoting a band, regardless of its links to their church, which repeatedly engages with the pagan, anti-Christian system of Rome and which compromises with the sodomite lobby?

The sad and disgraceful compromise of Rend Collective has already been brought to the attention of Bangor Elim but what have they done?

Rather than rectifying the situation by cancelling the two (at that time) scheduled concerts and publicly repudiating the God-dishonouring actions of Rend Collective, what did Bangor Elim do? They organised a third concert.

Like Pharoah in the days of Moses and like the children of Israel in the times of their disobedience and apostasy, Bangor Elim stiffened their necks, and not only continued in their error, but added to it.

This is great foolishness.

Proverbs 12:15 says: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.”

Proverbs 17:10 says: “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.”

Proverbs 26:11 says: “As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”

Had Bangor Elim not been deaf to the calls to dissociate themselves with Rend Collective, this ecumenical, compromising, people pleasing rock band, they would have been wise.

As it is, they have made it clear they are happy to reject what God has to say, through His Word, on matters of ecumenism, Romanism and transgenderism.

We are told, in Ephesians 5:11 that we are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Jude v 3 instructs us that we are to “earnestly contend for the faith”.

Yet here is Bangor Elim enthusiastically endorsing ecumenism by bringing in a band which seemingly, by their own admission, refuses to practice any form of spiritual discernment in whom they fellowship with.

We will also remind Bangor Elim, and Rend Collective, of what the Bible has to say regarding the teachings of the false religion of Romanism in the titles the Pope blasphemously takes upon himself.

The Pope calls himself the “Holy Father”, despite Jesus saying in Matthew 23:9: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

The Pope calls himself the “Pontiff”, meaning “bridge”, claiming he is a bridge between man and God, despite the Bible saying in 1 Timothy 2:5 that “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”.

The Pope calls himself the “Vicar of Christ on earth”, despite that role belonging to the Holy Ghost, as evidenced in John 14:26, which says: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

So the Pope blasphemes all three Persons of the Godhead, yet Bangor Elim is happy to welcome in Rend Collective, who have given credence to the Pope and his evil claims, as well as his church’s evil teachings, by performing at an event where the Pope was exalted and lifted up.

The notion of transgenderism is also clearly spoken of and rejected in God’s Word.

Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Deuteronomy 22:5: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”

The very notion, like that of sodomy, is an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22) in the eyes of God, yet Rend Collective said, in response to the previously referred to Twitter comments by a transgender individual that they wouldn’t be allowed to lead or preach in certain churches, that it was “very sad”.

What is “very sad” and indeed downright dangerous, is the influence held by Rend Collective over so many young (in particular) professing Christians.

The same minds which think it is “very sad” those whose lifestyle choices God describes as an “abomination” cannot lead or preach in some churches are conceiving the lyrics which many Christians, perhaps brothers and sisters, sons and daughters or grandchildren of readers, are singing away merrily in their spare time.

The same minds which think it is absolutely fine to give credence to the blasphemous claims and teachings of the Pope of Rome are conceiving the lyrics which are influencing the minds and Christian walks of brothers and sisters, sons and daughters or grandchildren of readers.

What a sad and, as we say, dangerous situation this is.

James 4:4: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

It is difficult to imagine that everyone who attends Bangor Elim would concur with Rend Collective’s assessment that it is “very sad” that sodomites and transgender people cannot lead and preach in certain churches, their own included.

It is difficult to imagine that everyone who attends Bangor Elim would be content with religious association with the blasphemies of Rome.

We would encourage anyone who attends Bangor Elim who is reading this to make their voice heard loud and clear in opposition to this fearful compromise being carried out by Rend Collective and by their church.

And we would also encourage anyone reading this who knows anyone involved with Bangor Elim or knows anyone who listens to Rend Collective’s music to share this article with them and warn them against attending or supporting these concerts.

We ought to be separated from error, but Rend Collective have brazenly ignored the Scriptural call to do just that, but do not let yourself be caught up in both their and Bangor Elim’s disobedience to God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

Isaiah 58:1: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

DUP sinks still further with lesbian council candidate

Romans 1:21-27: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”

Matthew 19:4-6: “And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

The Bible is crystal clear on homosexuality, it is branded an “abomination” (Leviticus 18:22), “vile” and “against nature” (Romans 1:26).

It is the chief sin which brought God’s judgment down on Sodom and Gomorrah.

Jude 1:7: “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

It is contrary to the founding principles and natural order of this world ordained by God.

Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

The DUP was founded by the late Rev Ian Paisley, who was also founder of the Free Presbyterian Church, and the party was at one time a fearsome and uncompromising voice for the Word of God.

Indeed, in the early 1980s it was Ian Paisley and the DUP which campaigned to ‘Save Ulster From Sodomy’.

Sadly, that battle was lost as that which God called an “abomination” was legalised. Today, that which God called an “abomination” is exalted.

It is paraded through our city streets, it is advocated by much of the movers and shakers (or so they like to think of themselves) in our country, and it seeks to exert total dominance in our society, so much so that a Christian bakery was taken to court for refusing to ice a cake bearing a message exalting such an “abomination”.

Praise God the McArthur family, who own Asher’s Bakery, was finally vindicated by the UK Supreme Court but it is chilling to think it got that far and surely the whole episode would be enough to make other Christians reluctant to rock the sodomite boat in future.

To be fair to the DUP, they are the only reason, politically speaking, that sodomite marriage and, for that matter, the murder of innocent unborn children, hasn’t been foisted on Northern Ireland.

However, as the DUP nominates its first openly homosexual council candidate, we can see very clearly how far this party has fallen.

Alison Bennington is a lesbian and a businesswoman and she has been chosen by party officials to contest the Glengormley Urban area for Antrim and Newtownabbey Council at next week’s election.

Now, one might ask why she is contesting a seat for a party which still opposes, publicly at least, sodomite marriage.

However, that is to miss the point.

The real question is why on earth the DUP would select a lesbian candidate to run for them and recommend her to the people of Glengormley and, by extension, the people of Ulster.

Such a situation would have been inconceivable even a short time ago.

However, the seeds of this compromise with sin have steadily been sown over the past number of years.

From governing Stormont departments which were administering money to sodomite groups to standing back and allowing sodomite pardons to be brought into Northern Ireland, there has been a clear softening of the party’s attitude to sodomy.

Indeed, within weeks of the DUP sitting back and allowing a Bill through Stormont saying that anyone convicted of this grave breach of God’s law had been wrongly treated (and in the process repudiating their own party’s previous stance against legalising sodomy) the Stormont executive had collapsed, and is yet to return almost two and a half years later.

Do we not see God’s hand of Providence in that?

However, unabashed, party leader Arlene Foster went on a charm offensive last year by cosying up with Islam, attending a GAA match on a Sunday and then addressing an event celebrating sodomites at Stormont.

Further to that, a vile drag queen event was held at Stormont with the support of one of the party’s MLAs, Paula Bradley.

And late last year Arlene Foster tweeted her congratulations to the lesbian Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson after she gave birth to a child which she will raise alongside her lesbian partner.

And now the DUP, a party founded upon fundamentalist Christian principles, guided by the authority of God’s Word, is recommending that its supporters, many of whom are Christians, vote for someone living in open defiance of His Word.

What a sad situation that is.

So far the only public voice of dissent has been from Jim Wells, MLA for South Down.

He said: “The party is making a very clear statement here by this selection and it fundamentally undermines the values and traditions of the party.”

Will other Christians in the DUP speak out against it? The signs so far are not positive, in fact surely enough time has already passed for them to do so.

If the DUP think this will be enough to placate the sodomite agenda then they are sadly mistaken.

Just look at the responses to their move.

A Cai Wilshaw of the LGBT website Pink News, said he hoped this move was only the beginning.

He said: “While it is true this is a positive development, I hope this is only the first step in a broader change in the party’s outlook on equal rights for all in the north of Ireland.”

A Gavin Boyd of the Rainbow Project was similarly minded.

He said: “Selecting an LGBT candidate says nothing about whether the DUP has changed from being openly hostile to LGBT people, our families and our rights.

“When the party begins to make amends for the way it has treated our community we will hold out the hand of friendship as we always have.”

So this isn’t enough for the advocates of sodomy and nothing will be until the DUP fall prostrate at the altar of sodomy, as Nebuchadnezzar required Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to fall before the idol he had set up.

Indeed, this spirit is reminiscent of that ascribed to Nebuchadnezzar in the prophecy of Habakkuk.

The Bible says in Habakkuk 2:5: “Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people.”

Nebuchadnezzar was never satisfied with what he had, he had an insatiable appetite for more and this is the case with the LGBT agenda, nothing but complete submission will suffice.

However, no matter what Daniel’s friends were threatened with and no matter what dire consequences were promised for their refusal to betray God, they stood firm.

They were greatly rewarded as God miraculously saved them from the fiery furnace.

How can the DUP expect God to be pleased with them when they recommend someone living brazenly contrary to His Word?

1 Samuel 2:30 warns of this. It says: “…them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Standing firm for God is a reward in itself as we know we are doing that which is right, but not only that, God will reward us for doing so.

There can be no blessing for the DUP when they run a candidate who lives in a way utterly at odds with the Bible.

Boozing and playing on a Sunday – the disappointing witness of Ireland rugby star Jacob Stockdale

Standards in the professing church have unquestionably dropped, and indeed have done significantly, in the past number of decades.

Be it the dress adopted by those attending church, the worldly pursuits of professing Christians or even the lowering in the regard for and fear of God, there can really be little argument that the separation between the world and the professing church has greatly diminished.

And to that end, it was with disappointment we read of the comments from Ireland rugby star Jacob Stockdale from an interview in the Presbyterian Herald, some of which was reproduced in the Belfast Telegraph.

Not only was the interview published just after he had played in a Six Nations match against Italy on the Lord’s Day, he also spoke of how he joins his team mates as they get their boozy nights out up and running, even joining in on the consumption of stupefying alcohol.

Further to that, he articulated his opposition to the Scriptural position of separation from sin.

We reaffirm our disappointment with his comments, which is all the more disappointing given the prominent position Jacob Stockdale occupies and the tremendous influence for good he could be were he to take a firm stand.

Rugby is Jacob Stockdale’s occupation and for him to have taken the field last Sunday is a clear breach of the Fourth Commandment.

This is outlined in Exodus 20:8-11, which says: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

There are those who sadly believe today that the Ten Commandments no longer apply, yet this runs contrary to the teaching of Jesus.

Such people quite often use the following passage to justify ignoring the Ten Commandments.

Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Of course, even this passage clearly demonstrates that such a contention is nonsense, as the closing verse says that those two commandments encapsulate the Ten Commandments.

But we are told in Luke that these two commandments which many modern Christians seem to think are the only rules to govern their lives are “written in the law” and therefore clearly these two commandments are a summary of the Ten Commandments.

Luke 10:25-28 says: “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.”

That being the case, it is clear that the Fourth Commandment is still very much applicable.

Jacob Stockdale’s decision, sadly, stands in stark contrast to that of former Scotland rugby player Euan Murray, who came to the realisation that playing on a Sunday was wrong, saying he didn’t believe in “pick ‘n’ mix Christianity”.

In an interview from 2009, Euan Murray said: “It’s basically all or nothing, following Jesus. I don’t believe in pick ‘n’ mix Christianity. I believe the Bible is the word of God, so who am I to ignore something from it?

“I might as well tear out that page then keep tearing out pages as and when it suits me. If I started out like that there would soon be nothing left.”

The views of Euan Murray are absolutely commendable and we would certainly encourage Jacob Stockdale to follow his lead. It is surely highly probable Euan Murray would be happy to advise Jacob Stockdale on the matter.

And the other truly disheartening aspect of this interview given to the Presbyterian Herald was his discussion of his drinking with his team mates, outlining his rejection of separation from sin.

Jacob Stockdale said he is a “firm believer that you can’t completely detach yourself from that culture because it makes it hard to socialise, to interact with your team-mates”.

He continued: “At the end of the day, the guys that I play with are my really close friends, whether they’re Christians or not.

“When you have team socials where there is a lot of drinking involved, you have to balance it; go, maybe have a few drinks but know when to stop drinking and be smart about it in that sense.

“I think it’s detrimental not to go to team socials and to distance yourself from your teammates and colleagues – at the end of the day you’re here to be an evangelist and separating yourself from others doesn’t help.”

Sadly, Jacob Stockdale thinks it is permissible to join in on the worldly activities of his ungodly teammates and it is “detrimental” to be separated from sin.

James 4:4 reminds us that this is a very wrong position to adopt. It says: “… know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

The attitude of Jacob Stockdale is actually putting him at “enmity with God”.

What a sad situation that is.

The perils of alcohol consumption are so clearly and wisely summed up by Solomon.

He says, under the inspiration of God, in Proverbs 23:29-35: “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”

What a folly it is to join in on such a worldly action. We would urge Jacob Stockdale to reconsider his approach to such matters.

It is also sad that the Presbyterian Herald is advertising Jacob Stockdale and his witness as commendable to its readers and to its members

Jacob Stockdale is a major figure, and is considered among the very finest players in the entire world, something which makes him a role model to many young Christians and aspiring rugby players.

The Presbyterian Church should be playing no part in promoting working on a Sunday and joining with the world in its ungodly activities.

According to the report, Jacob Stockdale is linked with the “Banbridge Road Presbyterian Church”, which would appear to be located in Dromore, County Down.

This church should be taking a stand against the actions and comments of Jacob Stockdale, but it does not appear that is the case.

Sadly, this is an example of the decline in the stand of the professing church in Ulster.

The story of Jacob Stockdale, whose rugby exploits will matter not one jot in eternity, will sadly be one of missed opportunity if he continues to forget the sabbath day to keep it holy and indulge in imbibing alcohol so as to fit in with his ungodly teammates.

We urge Jacob Stockdale, in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, to “consider your ways” (Haggai 1:5) and take what would prove to be a mighty stand for God.

Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

East Belfast Mission and Rev Andrew Irvine give themselves over to Rome

Jeremiah 6:13-16: “For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a reprehensible event, as it seeks to overthrow vital doctrinal differences in the name of soppy ‘unity’.

Never mind the fact that Rome denies the precious truth of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), or that it blasphemously offers up Christ as a sacrifice at its Mass, or the blasphemous titles taken upon himself by the Pope, or Rome’s many other false teachings and claims.

So long as we stand together and pontificate about how lovely it would be to live together in peace and harmony, and without any of that frightful earnest contending for the faith, then won’t everything just be fine and dandy?

The attitude of the ecumenist is to ignore or shun doctrinal differences (although in many cases it could be because they don’t actually hold particularly strongly to any doctrines to differ from others on) for the sake of the utterly vital ‘unity’, even though it is nothing other than a shabby pretence.

To allow others to continue in error and refuse to try to correct them, out of a love for their never-dying soul, is seen as praiseworthy and noble.

And one such ever so worthy character who helped spread ecumenical deceit during that week long festival of mean compromise is Rev Andrew Irvine (pictured, top), Methodist minister and Chief Executive of the East Belfast Mission, itself ran by the Methodist Church.

A former big shot on Belfast City Council, Rev Andrew Irvine has been brought on board at the East Belfast Mission to help boost its income.

And on Wednesday, 23 January, Rev Andrew Irvine engaged in his mean ecumenical compromise by preaching at a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service in a Romanist chapel in Lurgan in County Armagh.

Rev Andrew Irvine was the speaker in the service in St Paul’s Roman Catholic church in the town.

How exactly such compromise can be justified is frankly remarkable.

Did Rev Andrew Irvine tell those in attendance that the Romish lie of works based salvation will lead any who believe it to hell?

Did Rev Andrew Irvine tell them that Purgatory is nothing but a Romish creation, a fictitious venue used largely to extract more money from its deluded adherents?

Did Rev Andrew Irvine blast the disgraceful Papist lie of offering prayers to Mary and to long dead so-called ‘saints’?

What do you think?

Had Rev Andrew Irvine said any of those things he’d have been out on his ear so quickly it would have made his head spin.

Instead, he chooses to say soft things that will offend nobody and leave those in attendance with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

The theme of this year’s Week of Christian Unity was ‘Justice’.

Not God’s justice of course, the ecumenist and apostate doesn’t like God’s justice.

Rather it is about what is known as ‘social justice’, meaning it is very easy territory for anyone to cover and certainly would allow those in attendance to leave with that warm, fuzzy feeling so valued in churches which have rejected Christ.

After all, who could disagree that it would be nice if everybody was treated fairly?

Saying things that please people, rather than telling them they are on their way to a lost eternity in hell if they don’t repent of their sins, is symptomatic of the false prophets the whole way down through history.

This was very prevalent in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

Jeremiah was outright contradicted in his prophesies of destruction for Jerusalem by Hananiah, who prophesied from the imagination of his own heart rather than according to God’s Word.

Jeremiah 28:1-4 says: “And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

That certainly was a people-pleasing message from Hananiah.

Jeremiah responded in verse 9, saying: “…when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.”

What Jeremiah was saying was that time would prove who was telling the truth.

How did events transpire? Jeremiah 39 has the answer.

Jeremiah 39:1-9 says: “In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon. And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain. But the Chaldeans’ army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him. Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem. Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.”

Jeremiah had urged King Zedekiah to negotiate a truce with Babylon, Hananiah the false prophet claimed God had told him that the Lord would “break the yoke of the king of Babylon”.

Which message was more popular? Hananiah’s. Which message was of God? Jeremiah’s.

And so it is even to this day, the Word of God continues to be unpopular with the world at large, and Rev Andrew Irvine is following in the footsteps of Hananiah.

He is, in the words given to the prophet Isaiah by God, saying the “smooth things”.

Isaiah 30:9-10: “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:”

Ecumenical events are nothing other than deceits and we ought to stay well clear of any such event.

Likewise, any supposedly Protestant minister engaging in such is guilty of taking part in the deception.

It is unsurprising to see Rev Andrew Irvine taking this approach when you consider who is his boss, as it were, in the East Belfast Mission, Rev Brian Anderson (pictured, below), the President of the Irish Council of Churches.

On the East Belfast Mission’s own website, the Irish Council of Churches is called the “main ecumenical body in Ireland”, showing very clearly how the East Belfast Mission is avowedly tied up with Rome.

Let us be determined to oppose all form of ecumenical meetings and be unafraid to stand up against any who are eager to betray their Protestant heritage by mingling with the errors of Rome.

Ephesians 5:11: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”